Collar stiffener



J. a. VAN cuRA-J COLLAR STIFFENER Filed April 1', 1951 l NVENTOR CEsep; e]: Vim fCawu r/.

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES JOSEPH .1. VAN CUBA, or nasr rsrrie, NEW YORK.

, COLLAR 311mm; I

Application filed April 1, lfit la seria l Np. 526,955. i

ing with a substantially rigid body whereby a pleasing and eflicient structure is presented.

A further object more specifically is to provide a collar stiffener arranged with a stiffening bar so formed as to be positioned in back of the collar by integral resilient ornamental clips extending therefrom to the front of the go collar.

- In the accompanying drawingFigure 1 is a fragmentary side View of the soft or semisoft collar with an embodiment of the inven'- tion applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through Figure 1 approximately on 22, the same being on a slightly enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the stiffener shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 3, but showing a modified construction.

Figure 5 is a sectional view through Figure 4 approximately on line 55.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, 1 indicates a soft or semi-soft collar of any desired design, same having front edge 2 forming part of the front por tion or section .3 of the collar. The portion or section 3, unless held by some form of stiffener, is almost sure to curl up and get out of shape before it becomes soiled, and consequently presents an undesirable appearance, even though clean.

In the present invention a stiffener has been provided for holding the section 3 in proper position and at the same time presenting ornamental members at spaced points thereon. 50 Referring particularly to Figure 3 the stiffener is disclosed as having a fiat'bar' i of desired length, saidbar at the respecti've ends merging into resilient looped members 5 and 6,-each'member merging into an ornamental clamp 7'. The-stiffener may be *made from metal, celluloid or other material,

provided the'bar 4 is comparatively stiff and the loop members 5 and 6 comparatively resilient.

metal scroll work 8 applied thereto.

As shown in Figure 1 a part of the loops 5 and 6 are seen, but as these are comparatively narrow they will not present an objectional appearance. The loop members 5 and 6 are so formed that when the stiffener is in the position shown in Figure 1 the clamping member 7 will be under tension. This will The ornamental members 7 may be ornamental-in outline and also may have not only hold the stiffener in place on the collar but will hold the bar 4 flatwise against the under surface of the collar near edge 2, and consequently prevent the portion or section 3 from curling or otherwise getting out of shape. The stiffener may be placed in position at any time and left in position until the collar is soiled, notwithstanding the fact that it is put on and taken off a number of times. If preferred, a stiffener could be put on after the collar is in use.

The stiffener has been shown of a certain length, Figure l, but it could be made much longer if desired, or somewhat shorter, if

preferred.

In Figure 4 a slightly modified form of the invention is shown wherein the bar 4' is divided into sections 9 and 10, section 10 being a rectangular tubular structure in which the section9 is slightly mounted. Preferably section 9 fits rather snugly in section 10, as

shown in Figure 5, so that it will not accidentally move, but may be readily moved by a push in the right direction. Aside from these details, the construction is the same as shown in Figure 3 and acts in the same way.

' I claim:

1. A stiffener for soft collars and the like, comprising a substantia ly flat bar, a resilient loop at each end of said banand an enlarged clamp at the free end of each loop, said loops being adapted to straddle the front edge of the collar while the bar engages the under side of the collar flat-wise and the clamps engage the outside surface at points back from the edge.

l 2. A stiffener for soft collars and the like,

comprising a straight rectangular stifi'ener bar and a resilient, substantially U-shaped member at. each end of said ,bar, said U- shaped. members having an enlar ed gri ping end adapted to press against t e outsi e surface of the collar at a point back of the edge as the U-shaped member straddles the, front edge of the collar said bar being adapted to be positioned baci; of and substantially parallel to said edge on the under surface of the collar. I

3. A stifiener for soft collars-and the like comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped clamps adapted to. straddle the same front v edge of the collar and a bar connecting said clamps, said bar consisting of a tubular.sec tion and a section slidably mounted in the tubular section whereby the distance apart of said clamping members may be varied.

215 JOSEPH J. VAN CURA. 

